‘Like a mini-Disneyland’: Pixie Woods opens for milestone 65th season

Saturday

STOCKTON — The most secret jewel of Stockton reopened for the season on Saturday, bringing joy to youngsters and fond memories to adults who used to come when they were children.

Saturday marked the 65th season Pixie Woods has provided fun, food and quality family time to residents in Stockton.

“It’s a milestone,” Pixie Woods board President Mary Pennini said. “How many parks can you say have been around that long, besides Disneyland? I remember being here as a child when it first opened here in 1954.”

Pennini said the park has seen a number of changes over the course of nearly seven decades, including the introduction and departure of amenities such as a petting zoo and seal tanks.

Today, Pennini said children seem to enjoy the park’s Pixie Express Train and the carousel the most. And when the weather is nice and warm, like it was on Saturday, they love to splash around in the Water Dragon to stay cool.

“(The Water Dragon) was the first thing they came to,” Daniel Ray said of his children, who were having fun trying to catch the spurts of water that periodically shot up from the pavement.

A native Stocktonian, Ray said he used to come to Pixie Woods as a child, but only remembered riding the train.

“Everything actually seems really new to me,” he said. “But the kids enjoy it, and here at the fountain they get to stay out of the heat.”

Erick and Jessica Ruelas brought their 3-year-old son Nicholas to park for the first time.

Although both are native to Stockton, Erick Ruelas said he had never set foot in Pixie Woods before Saturday.

“I think it’s great for kids,” he said. “I’m thinking about getting a membership to bring (Nicholas) here once a month. It’s a great place to come for a nice day with the family.”

Jessica Ruelas said she had been to the park several times as a child, either with family and friends or as part of school field trips.

“It still sort of looks brand new to me,” she said. “And that’s because I haven’t been here in a long time. But it is fun and (Nicholas) gets to be outdoors and play with other children.”

Tanya Wood said she brings her children to the park throughout the season, not just on regular weekends, but for special events like Christmas in July or the Halloween Party in October.

Her 3-year-old daughter was able to snap a picture with The Mad Hatter and Alice, who were visiting the park from Wonderland for the day.

“It’s like a mini-Disneyland,” Wood said. “For one, it’s a lot less expensive. And secondly, there is a lot to do here and some really fun rides for the kids. It’s fun for everybody and the kids just love it.”

Pixie Woods will be open only on weekends through the month of May. In June and July, the park will be open Thursday through Sunday, and then open Saturdays and Sundays from Aug. 3 to Oct. 19.

For more information about membership and special events at the park, go to www.pixiewoods.org/index.html.

“There’s not that many opportunities for children in our area,” Pennini said. “And besides the Children’s Museum and Pixie Woods, there’s not a whole lot to do in Stockton. So we’ve got to keep this park going, and keep it alive and safe for the children.”